The Network Women Free from Violence

The Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence is composed of parliamentarians, engaged at national level in the fight against violence against women. They belong to delegations of member and observer States with the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as delegations of partners for democracy.

The Network has been active since 2006, when it contributed to the Council of Europe campaign Stop domestic violence against women.

It has played an important role throughout the process which has led to the entry into force of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and will continue to do so as the Convention foresees a role for parliaments in monitoring its implementation by the State parties. More

The Istanbul Convention

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, is ground-breaking in more than one respect. It acknowledges that violence against women is a human rights violation and a form of discrimination. Furthermore, it aims at zero tolerance for this violence by criminalising a whole series of acts: physical violence, sexual violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, coerced abortion and harassment.

Its many other advances make it a "gold standard" instrument, which supplements existing legal measures and enlarges the international framework with regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The Convention entered into force on 1 August 2014. National parliaments are invited to participate in the monitoring process, in recognition of the major role that they perform in its implementation. The Parliamentary Assembly will also play its full part in the monitoring, and will keep up its commitment through the unprecedented role of evaluation which this treaty confers on it.

General Rapporteur on violence against women

Sahiba Gafarova (Azerbaijan, EC) was appointed General Rapporteur on violence against women by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination in April 2015. Her role is to contribute to raising awareness on the phenomenon of violence against women amongst the general public and institutions, be they governmental or non-governmental, and to promote the Istanbul Convention. Ms Gafarova also ensures the political co-ordination of the Network.